Those were the words that weighted on Priti Shah when she went in for interviews after taking time off to raise her children. Despite previously earning her PhD and working in tech for most of her career, after over a decade out of the workforce, many tech companies weren’t taking her seriously when she decided she wanted to return to work.
It was around that time that Cohen was asked to speak at a conference about the success of these programs and a lightbulb went off for her: this should be brought to other sectors. Knowing that the tech and engineering sector in many ways resembled the financial sector, Cohen approached the Society of Women Engineers with her idea. Straight away, they were all in.
“The relauncher talent pool is so high caliber. They're educated, with great work experience, a mature perspective and energy and enthusiasm about returning to work precisely because they have been away from it for a while. Plus they are at a stable life stage with fewer or no maternity leaves and fewer spousal or partner job relocations,” explains Cohen.